Stuck between worlds: how technology is changing our perception of body and reality
A person takes off a VR headset and suddenly realises that their hands feel foreign. The fingers move, but they seem not to belong to them. Just a few seconds pass, and that feeling disappears. Yet, a residual sense of unease and fear lingers; “What was that?!” This proves the fact that our perception of reality is flexible. Modern technologies are capable of temporarily “rewriting” what we see around us and how we feel about our own bodies.
The phenomenon of proprioceptive disconnect
Each of us has what is known as a “hidden sense of the body”. In scientific terms, this is called proprioception. It acts as a sort of internal GPS. Thanks to it, even with our eyes closed, we are aware of where each part of our body is in relation to the other parts and the surrounding environment. Also, it is responsible for coordinating movements. The brain receives signals from muscles, joints, and ligaments, allowing us to move confidently and perform everyday tasks.
However, when we immerse ourselves in virtual reality, proprioception stops functioning properly. As soon as we wear a VR headset, our sense of body awareness starts to rely on sight. As a result, when our eyes see one thing and our hands and feet feel something different, the familiar body map shifts.
Research shows that many people experience the “foreign body” effect. A person begins to perceive the virtual body as their own while in VR. Upon returning to reality, they encounter dissonance, where their hands and feet feel foreign. This phenomenon is referred to as proprioceptive disconnect, a temporary disruption between familiar reality and body awareness.
Why do we get “stuck” in virtuality?
The main reason is the mismatch between visual signals and movement. The eyes tell us: “Now the hand is reaching forward”, but at the same time, the muscles send different signals to the brain. When we add slight delays in motion tracking and the unusual “geometry” of the virtual body, the brain becomes confused. Often, after spending a long time in VR, a person reaches for an object in real life and misses it by a few centimetres. This happens because their brain has “retrained” to the new coordinates.
However, this does not only happen when a person puts on a VR headset. For example, after swinging on a swing, we may feel like the ground is shifting beneath our feet. Also, after spending an entire day in high heels, walking barefoot feels different. VR equipment affects multiple sensory channels at once, which is why the “foreign body” effect is more pronounced. There is a sensation that our body does not belong to us while the brain is “switching”.
Returning to reality
This phenomenon cannot be described as pleasant. However, the good news is that our body can quickly return to normal. To regain a sense of self, it’s enough to take a deep breath, wiggle your fingers, or take a leisurely walk around the room. Touching real objects, such as a cup, a book, a table, etc., helps as well. Tactile sensations bring us back to reality, while movement helps the brain “reset” the body map.
Video chats as a mild form of virtuality
VR is an extreme example. However, familiar technologies can create a similar effect. Many users of CooMeet.chat, Luckycrush, Insta Cams, and other online video chat platforms report feeling a sense of unreality after prolonged use of these platforms.
Why does this happen? When a person spends a long time communicating with someone in a videochat roulette, they live in the “image on the screen”. They carefully monitor how they look, watching themselves in the small camera window, paying attention to facial expressions, gestures, background, etc. When the conversation in the chat roulette ends, the person feels as if their true “self” has remained in the frame. This is a lighter version of the phenomenon we discussed earlier, where a disconnect occurs between the online image and the sensation of your body.
How to maintain a sense of reality while video chatting
To “ground” yourself after a long session in a random videochat, all you need is a few simple actions. The first thing to do is to stand up and stretch. After that, you can look at yourself in the mirror, as the image on the screen often distorts our appearance. Going out onto the balcony or outside can help: feel the breeze, listen to the sounds around you, and smell the scents in the air. In a few minutes, your brain will “recognise” your body again and stop confusing the image on the screen with reality.
Boundaries and risks
You should start to worry if proprioceptive disconnect becomes a permanent phenomenon rather than a temporary one. The longer a person feels a loss of connection with their body, the harder it becomes for them to return to reality. Gradually, this can affect the physical level and psycho-emotional aspect of any individual.
Some users experience depersonalisation, a state in which a person perceives themselves from the outside. This is a serious issue that affects daily life. Depersonalisation is accompanied by increased anxiety, decreased concentration, and sometimes panic attacks. A person stops perceiving what is happening to them as real, as if their thoughts and actions belong to someone else. In such cases, it is important to limit the use of VR technologies, as they only exacerbate the problem.
How to use technology for good
Getting “stuck” between worlds is not a fantasy, but a real effect of the brain. Modern technologies can change our sensations faster than we can notice. To avoid getting trapped, we should not replace real life with the virtual one. If the VR space becomes a familiar environment and the body is merely a “carrier”, there is a risk of losing connection with yourself permanently.
Therefore, it is very important to learn how to “return” to your body promptly, regardless of whether you have been in an exciting VR world or on a date in a videochat.
